Sex Pistols Timeline | Sex Pistols | The Official Website Sex Pistols Timeline 1972 While bunking off school Steve Jones and Paul Cook – together with Wally Nightingale – decide to form a band. Steve is singer, Paul drummer and Wally guitarist. 1973 Until they can think of something better they are calling themselves either “The Strand” or “The Swankers”. 1974 Glen Matlock joins as bassist. Matlock had been working in Malcolm McLaren’s shop ‘Let It Rock’. Where Steve and Paul would often hang-out; pestering Malcolm to take an interest in their band. 1975 Malcolm McLaren finally becomes the bands manager. Wally Nightingale leaves. Steve Jones moves to lead guitar. Malcolm suggests the name “QT Jones & His Sex Pistols”. Later shortened to “Sex Pistols”. After being spotted on London’s Kings Road – with hacked green hair and a homemade “I HATE Pink Floyd” T-shirt – John Lydon is invited to audition as singer at Malcolm McLaren’s shop. Sex Pistols, with John Lydon, play their first ever live show at St Martin’s College of Art, London, November 6th 1975.

1976 The Pistols begin to play live regularly throughout London and Britain. They also play their first shows abroad in Paris. Sex Pistols sign to EMI and release their debut single ‘ Anarchy in the UK ‘. Appear on ‘Today’ show. Interviewer Bill Grundy goads the band into swearing live on early evening TV. Due to the media furore the band find themselves banned from playing live in the UK. 1977 EMI sack the Sex Pistols. Bassist Glen Matlock leaves to be replaced by Sid Vicious . Pistols sign to A&M Records. 10 days later they sack the Pistols. Sign to Virgin Records and release 2nd single ‘ God Save The Queen ‘ during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations. Despite technically outselling the Number 1 record it only peaks at Number 2. Members of the band are attacked in the streets. Record their debut album ‘ Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols ‘ with producer Chris Thomas. The album is released in October and preceded by 2 singles ‘ Pretty Vacant ‘ and ‘ Holidays in the Sun ‘. 1978 Pistols tour USA. They split up after last date in San Francisco.

John returns to the UK. Paul and Steve head to Brazil to team up with Train Robber Ronnie Biggs. Sid overdoses and is admitted to Hospital. First post-Rotten single is released. Double A-side featuring Sid Vicious’ cover version of ‘My Way’ and ‘No One is Innocent’ with Ronnie Biggs on vocals. Sid’s girlfriend Nancy Spungen is found dead in the couple’s New York hotel room. Sid is chief suspect and is charged with her murder. He has no memory of the events. 1979 Sid Vicious fatally overdoses while released on bail from New York’s Rikers Island Prison. He is just 21. Malcolm McLaren continues work on a film of the Sex Pistols story. Several singles featuring either Sid Vicious or Steve Jones on vocals are released to fund the film. John Lydon begins court action against Malcolm McLaren over contract rights and unpaid moneys. A receiver is appointed to control the Sex Pistols assets, and the forthcoming film. 1980 The release of ‘ The Great Rock n Roll Swindle ‘ film. Malcolm McLaren’s fictionalised satire of the Sex Pistols story.

1986 John Lydon’s case against Malcolm McLaren finally comes to the High Court in London. McLaren agrees to hand control of the band’s assets back to the Sex Pistols. 1996 The Pistols original line-up returns – Lydon, Cook, Jones & Matlock – for the ‘Filthy Lucre’ world tour. Over 70 dates throughout Europe, North and South America, Japan & Australasia. Appear live on BBC ‘Top of the Pops’. Banned from playing Northern Ireland on grounds of “blasphemous content”. Release of album ‘ Filthy Lucre Live ‘ recorded in front of 30,000 people at their homecoming show in London’s Finsbury Park. 2000 Release of ‘ The Filth and the Fury ‘ – a feature length Sex Pistols documentary containing new interviews with the band, unseen footage and archive material. 2002 To celebrate their Silver Jubilee Sex Pistols play a special show at London’s Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. They perform virtually their whole back catalogue and some surprises.

Dance remix of ‘ God Save The Queen ‘ by Neil Barnes (formerly of Leftfield) and the Sex Pistols is released 25 years to the day of the original release. Pistols headline the ‘KROQ Inland Invasion Festival’ in California. Playing to 50,000 people. 2003 Pistols play North American Tour. They set up the tour themselves without the support of a record company or the music press. John Lydon offers to take the Pistols to Iraq to play for the people (not Allied troops). Red-tape eventually scuppers the project. Pistols are nominated &ndash; without their approval &ndash; for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They are turned down. 2006 Sex Pistols are finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . They refuse to attend and instead send a hand-written letter stating their contempt for the institution. 2007 Sex Pistols re-record ‘Anarchy in the UK’ and ‘Pretty Vacant’ for use in ‘ Guitar Hero ‘ video game; after it is discovered the original multi-track masters have been misplaced. 30th Anniversary of ‘Never Mind The Bollocks ‘.

Limited edition vinyl replicas of the LP &ndash; together with their first four 7″ singles &ndash; are released. Pistols play 5 sold-out nights at London Brixton Academy, plus Arena shows in Manchester and Glasgow. 2008 Headline Isle of Wight Festival and set out on the ‘ Combine Harvester Tour 2008 ‘. Over 30 dates headlining various European Festivals. First ever shows in Russia. First live dates in Japan for 12 years. Release of ‘ There’ll Always Be an England ‘ concert DVD recorded at November 2007 Brixton Academy shows. 2012 Sex Pistols leave Virgin / EMI Records to sign for Universal Music Catalogue UK. Release of Super-deluxe version of ‘Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols’ , including a previously unreleased studio take of ‘Belsen Was A Gas’ with John Rotten on vocals. Pretty Vacant is featured in the opening ceremony of the London Olympics God Save The Sex Pistols - Official UK Singles Discography 26th November 1976 EMI 2566.

"Anarchy In The U.K."/ "I Wanna Be Me" Notes. The single was available in both standard EMI sleeve and plain black sleeve to disguise the contents. To view the front and back sleeve plus A & B side labels, visit the Vinyl Singles Worldwide section. Chart position no.38. A&M AMS 7284 "God Save The Queen" / "No Feeling" To view the sleeve plus A & B side labels, visit the Vinyl Singles Worldwide section. Notes. Withdrawn prior to release when group dismissed by A&M. 27th May 1977 Virgin VS 181. "God Save The Queen" / "Did You No Wrong" To view the front and back sleeve plus A & B side labels, visit the Vinyl Singles Worldwide section. Chart position no. 2. 1st July 1977 Virgin VS 184. "Pretty Vacant" / "No Fun" To view the front and back sleeve plus A & B side labels, visit the Vinyl Singles Worldwide section. Chart position no.6. 14th October 1977 Virgin VS191.

"Holidays In The Sun" / "Satellite" To view the front and back sleeve plus A & B side labels, visit the Vinyl Singles Worldwide section. Chart position no.8. Virgin VS 220. "No One Is Innocent (A Punk Prayer By Ronald Biggs)" / "My Way" Notes. 7" single. To view the front and back sleeve plus both labels, visit the Vinyl Singles Worldwide section. Virgin VS 220 12 A. "The Biggest Blow (A Punk Prayer By Ronald Biggs)" / "My Way" Notes. 12 " single. To view the front and back sleeve plus both labels, visit the Vinyl Singles Worldwide section. Virgin VS 220 12 A 3. "The Biggest Blow (A Punk Prayer By Ronald Biggs)" / "Interview" (not listed on label) // "My Way" Notes. 12 " single. Additional notes. Double A-side. Vocals on "No One Is Innocent" by Ronnie Biggs. "The Biggest Blow" is the title given to "No One Is Innocent" on the 12" issue. A limited no.

of 12" were pressed with an addional Biggs/Cook/Jones interview. "My Way", vocals by Sid Vicious. Chart position No. 7. No one Is Innocent 7" The Biggest Blow 12" 6th June 1980 Virgin VS 339. "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone" / "Pistols Propaganda" Notes. "Stepping Stone", vocals by Johnny Rotten. "Pistols Propoganda" is the trailer for the "Swindle" movie, voice-over by the late BBC commentator John Snagge. To view the front and back sleeve plus A & B side labels, visit the Vinyl Singles Worldwide section. Chart position no. 21. 12th December 1980 Virgin SEX 1. PISTOLS PACK. Six singles comprising back to back A sides, packaged in a plastic wallet.

Couplings as follows: Virgin Sex 1.1 "God Save The Queen" / "Pretty Vacant" Virgin Sex 1.2 "Holidays In The Sun" / "My Way" Virgin Sex 1.3 "Something Else" / "Silly Thing" Virgin Sex 1.4 "C'mon Everybody" / "The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle" Virgin Sex 1.5 "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone" / "Anarchy In The U.K." Virgin Sex 1.6 "Black Leather" / "Here We Go Again" Notes. Limited edition of 40,000. Black Leather and Here We Go Again had previously been unreleased in the U.K. To view all the front and back sleeves plus A & B side labels, visit the special Pistols Pack section. Black Leather (Sex 1.6) Here We Go Again (Sex 1.6) September 1981 Virgin VS 443. "Who Killed Bambi" / "Rock Around The Clock" Notes. Credited to "Tenpole Tudor with the Sex Pistols".

Released to cash in on Tenpole Tudor's own chart success on Stiff Records. This version of Who Killed Bambi is different to the version that appeared on the original pressings of Silly Thing, however it did appear on later pressings of the single from 1980s. To view the front and back sleeve plus A & B side labels, visit the Vinyl Singles Worldwide section. 6th May 1983 Virgin VS609. "Anarchy In The U.K". / "No Fun" Notes. 7" single. To view the front and back sleeve plus A & B side labels, visit the Vinyl Singles Worldwide section. Virgin VS 609-12. "Anarchy In The U.K." // "No Fun" / "E.M.I." Notes. 12 " single. To view the front and back sleeve plus A & B side labels, visit the Vinyl Singles Worldwide section. Additional notes. Re-released to coincide with the 1983 General Election. The front of the sleeves of both 7" and 12" were totally black to reflect the original EMI release. The song titles etc were on the back of the sleeve.

7" sleeve Virgin CDT 3. "Anarchy In The U.K. / "No Fun" / "E.M.I." Notes. 3" CD format. Cover same as 12" single Virgin VS 609-12 5th December 1988 Virgin CDT 37. " God Save The Queen" / "Did You No Wrong" / "Don't Give Me No Lip Child" Notes. 3" CD format. Cover same as 7" single Virgin VS 181 21st September 1992 Virgin VS 1431 " Anarchy In The U.K." / " I Wanna Be Me" Notes. 7" single. To view the front and back sleeve plus A & B side labels, visit the Vinyl Singles Worldwide section. Virgin VSC 1431 " Anarchy In The U.K." / " I Wanna Be Me" Notes. Cassette single. Virgin VSCDT 1431 " Anarchy In The U.K." / " I Wanna Be Me" / "Anarchy In The U.K. (Demo Version)" Notes. Standard CD single.

28th September 1992 Virgin VSCDX 1431 " Anarchy In The U.K." / " I Wanna Be Me" / "Anarchy In The U.K. (Demo Version)" Notes: Poster CD single Additional notes. Released to coincide with the "Kiss This" compilation. Chart position no. 33. Note: All formats carried the same cover design. 23rd November 1992 Virgin VS 1448 "Pretty Vacant" / "No Feelings (Demo Version)" Notes. 7" single. To view the front and back sleeve plus A & B side labels, visit the Vinyl Singles Worldwide section. Virgin VST 1448 "Pretty Vacant" / "No Feelings (Demo Version)" // "Satellite (Demo Version)" / "Submission (Demo Version # 1)" Notes. 12" single. To view the front and back sleeve plus A & B side labels, visit the Vinyl Singles Worldwide section. Virgin VSCDG 1448 "Pretty Vacant" / "No Feelings (Demo Version)" / "E.M.I.

Unlimited Edition (Demo Version)" / "Satellite (Demo Version)" Notes: CD single part 1. 30th November 1992 Virgin VSCDT 1448 "Pretty Vacant" / "Seventeen (Demo Version)" / "Submission (Demo Version # 2)" / "Watcha Gonna Do About It" Notes: CD single part 2. Chart position no. 56. Virgin Records celebrated the 1996 "Filthy Lucre Tour" by releasing: 15th July 1996 Virgin VUS 113. "Pretty Vacant Live"/ "Buddies" Notes. Silver vinyl 7". Recorded Finsbury Park 23/6/96. To view the sleeve, silver vinyl, plus A & B side labels, visit the Vinyl Singles Worldwide section. Virgin VUSCD 113. "Pretty Vacant Live" / "Buddies" / "No Fun" / "Problems (demo)" Notes. CD single. Tracks 1-3 recorded Finsbury Park 23/6/96.

"Buddies" is "Bodies", mixed from "within the audience" i.e. a crowd "sing-a-long" perspective. "Problems" is a Chris Spedding produced demo. Virgin. VUSCDJ 113 "Pretty Vacant Live" Notes. One track CD promo single in card sleeve with different cover design to standard CD. Virgin DPRO-115500. "Pretty Vacant Live" Notes. One track CD promo single in jewel case. No cover/insert. Chart position no. 18. CD promo single in card sleeve Back of CD promo in jewel case July 1996 Virgin SEXDJ96 "Anarchy In The U.K." / "God Save The Queen" / "Bodies" / "Pretty Vacant" / "Holidays In The Sun" Notes. 5 track CD promo released in summer 1996, coinciding with the Filthy Lucre reunion. 27th May 2002 (25 years to the day since God Save The Queen was originally released). Virgin VS 1832.

"God Save The Queen" / "God Save The Queen (Neil Barnes & the Sex Pistols - 7" extended mix)" Notes. 7" single. To view the front and back sleeve plus A & B side labels, visit the Vinyl Singles Worldwide section. Virgin VST 1832. "God Save The Queen" / "God Save The Queen (Neil Barnes & the Sex Pistols - 7" extended mix)" // "God Save The Queen (Neil Barnes & the Sex Pistols - dance mix)" Notes. 12" single. To view the front and back sleeve plus A & B side labels, visit the Vinyl Singles Worldwide section. Virgin VSTDJ 1832. "Original" / "Neil Barnes & the Sex Pistols 7" extended mix" // "Neil Barnes & the Sex Pistols dance mix" Notes. 12" promo single in custom stickered sleeve, with generic title God Save The Queen. To view the front and back sleeve plus A & B side labels, visit the Vinyl Singles Worldwide section. Virgin VSCDT 1832.

"God Save The Queen" / "God Save The Queen (Neil Barnes & the Sex Pistols - dance mix)" / "God Save The Queen (Neil Barnes & the Sex Pistols - 7" extended mix)" Notes. CD single. Virgin VSCDTDJ 1832. "God Save The Queen" / "God Save The Queen (Neil Barnes & the Sex Pistols - dance mix)" / "God Save The Queen (Neil Barnes & the Sex Pistols - 7" extended mix)" Notes. CD promo single. EMI. "God Save The Queen. Neil Barnes & the Sex Pistols 7" mix" Notes. The Pistols back on EMI. No catalogue number on disc or sleeve. The rarest of all 2002 GSTQ related pressings. One track CD promo single, on EMI. Chart Position no. 15. 12" and CD carried same design 12" promo custom stickered sleeve CD promo 3 track single EMI 1 track CD promo 1st October 2007 EMI 2566. "Anarchy In The U.K." / "I Wanna Be Me" Notes.

Part of Virgin's 2007 vinyl re-release series to tie in with the 30th anniversary of Never Mind The Bollocks. Original sleeve and labels reproduced. Chart position no.70. Sex Pistols — Anarchy in the U.K. — Listen, watch, download and discover music for free at Last.fm "Anarchy in the U.K." is the title of the first single by Sex Pistols , released on November 26, 1976. It was the second UK punk rock single, preceded by The Damned 's " New Rose ." Don't want to see ads? Subscribe now Similar Tracks Sex Pistols - Anarchy In The U.K. (Vinyl) at Discogs Anarchy In The U.K. Phonographic Copyright (p) – EMI Records Ltd. Credits Made in Gt. Britain This issue credits Dave Goodman on the B side. There are some different colouring of the label on this. Darker like 1563132 or lighter, more orange. Mixed in different variations. Few with 'Factory Sample' stickers.

[The original version, Anarchy In The UK , the first 5000 copies, came in a plain black sleeve and mis-credits Chris Thomas as producer of 'I Wanna Be Me'.] Barcode and Other Identifiers Matrix / Runout (Side A label): EMI 2566A Matrix / Runout (Side B label): EMI 2566B Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, stamped): EMI 2566 A1 Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, stamped): EMI 2566 B2 Anarchy in the U.K. by Sex Pistols Songfacts Anarchy in the U.K. by Sex Pistols Songfacts Songfacts Anarchy is society without government or law. This is a good example of The Sex Pistols' anti-establishment attitude. The punk scene was picking up, and a lot of young people were fed up with the British royalty that ran the country. This was the Sex Pistols' first single, and it caused quite a stir in England with its lyrics advocating violence against the government.

Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols was not released until a year later, partly because of distribution concerns: after hearing "Anarchy In The UK," some organizations refused to ship the album. >> Suggestion credit: Bertrand - Paris, France Sid Vicious, who died of a drug overdose in 1979 and was the subject of the 1986 film Sid and Nancy, had not yet joined the band. Vicious replaced original bass player Glen Matlock after this was released. The Sex Pistols were dropped by two record companies before finally releasing the Never Mind The Bollocks album with Virgin Records. Virgin had a hard time promoting this because no one would let them advertise it. The subsequent record store and radio bans helped generate publicity that was more valuable than what they could have bought. The manager of The Sex Pistols, Malcolm McLaren, put them together to deliberately cause controversy. He knew the band would stir up trouble and get a lot of media attention in the process.

That's what happens when you have a lead singer named Johnny Rotten singing that he was an "anarchist " and "The Antichrist." The line, "I use the enemy" is a play on words: "Enemy" is actually "NME," a British magazine called New Musical Express. The Sex Pistols were famous for manipulating the media, and NME apparently took the bait: they said in their review of this song, "Johnny Rotten sings flat, the song is laughably naïve, and the overall feeling is of a third-rate Who imitation." After this was released, the band went on a British talk show where they repeatedly swore at and berated the host, Bill Grundy. This caused a great deal of controversy, which resulted in their record company, EMI, dropping the band and pulling the single. Here's an explanation of the alphabet soup in the lyrics: MPLA: A political group in Angola - the Movimento Popular de Libertacao de Angola. UDA: The loyalist supporters in Northern Ireland conflict. The UDA (Ulster Defence Association) supported Britain and opposed unification of Northern Ireland. IRA: The Irish Republican Army, who opposed Britain and were in favor of unification in Northern Ireland.

As a publicity stunt, the band performed this song on the Thames River from a boat called "The Queen Elizabeth" on June 7, 1977. Celebrations were underway for the Silver Jubilee, celebrating the Queen's 25 years on the throne. Two days later, she was scheduled to ride on the river as part of the ceremonies, so the Sex Pistols decided to make a mockery of it. The plan was to perform the song as they were floating by the House Of Parliament, but they didn't get close, as police intercepted the boat. The record company executives who organized the event were arrested when they docked. The stunt got them plenty of press and boosted their punk rock bona fides. "That came about, oddly enough, just as a giggle because of not getting gigs," Johnny Rotten explained in Melody Maker. I had in my mind not the slightest knowledge of there being a Jubilee at all. I was quite stunned by it all." Mötley Crüe often played this song in concert, and they recorded it for their 1991 compilation Decade of Decadence.

While their version is still titled "Anarchy in the U.K.," Vince Neil sang it as "Anarchy For the USA," with the lyrics changed to make references to American entities, including the PMRC, an organization that led a crusade to keep albums with explicit lyrics from being sold to minors. the Sex Pistols re-recorded this song for the video game Guitar Hero 3. John Lydon told Mojo magazine July 2008 about writing this song: "It flowed quite naturally to me. These are just long, long-term motivations that are there and you can't, can't, can't ever underestimate the sheer driving energy poverty will bring you. Being denied everything and access to everything. Government, schools, the lot, tell you that you don't count. You are scum. Go with flow or else. That's an incredible driving energy, to be better than their estimation of you." Bass guitarist Glen Matlock told Mojo magazine that this is his favorite Sex Pistols' statement. He explained: "Everything about it is just right. It's one of those rare moments captured, the vibe, the groove, and the bass ain't bad! It still sounds outrageous.

We spent a long time recording that with Dave Goodman with Malcolm (McLaren) just saying how it's got to be faster. So we put a block on that and went in again with Chris Thomas, just recorded it in 35 minutes. Chris banned Malcolm from the studio and that was important (laughs). I can understand why Malcolm was so worried because there was a lot resting on it, but he was getting in the way." Megadeth did a popular cover of this song that was included on their 1988 album So Far, So Good... So What! and also released as a single. A video was made for this version directed by David Mackie. God Save The Queen 7″ | Sex Pistols | The Official Website God Save The Queen 7″ God Save The Queen 7″ TYPE: Singles RELEASE DATE: 27th May 1977 God Save The Queen Recorded at Wessex Studios, London, March 1977 Vocals: John Rotten God Save The Queen Did You No Wrong John Rotten’s alternative National Anthem. The Sex Pistols second 7″ single, and their first for Virgin Records, released on May 27th 1977.

Sid Vicious had replaced Glen Matlock on bass prior to recording but does not play on the track. Despite popular belief, release of ‘GSTQ’ was not pre-planned to coincide with the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations in June. Originally titled ‘No Future’ the track was written in 1976 and would actually have been released in March 1977 had A&M Records not sacked the Pistols after only 10 days. Some advance copies of the A&M single were pressed and are now worth a small fortune. There are not many songs – written over baked beans at the breakfast table – that went onto divide a nation and force a change in popular culture. No one had ever dared question the Monarchy so publicly; and it wasn’t without its repercussions. Members of the band were attacked in the streets; and Government Members of Parliament even called for the Pistols to be hung at London’s Traitors’ Gate! Even though it was banned from radio and TV – and the Pistols were branded public enemy #1 – ‘GSTQ’ stormed to the top of the charts.

It technically out-sold the Number 1 record of the week (The First Cut is the Deepest by Rod Stewart) but peaked at Number 2. The powers-that-be refused to acknowledge it but the Sex Pistols were Number 1. This wasn’t a conspiracy theory, this was for real. On June 7th – the week of the national celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee – the Sex Pistols arranged their own tribute with a boat trip along the River Thames in full view of the Houses of Parliament. After playing a handful of songs – including ‘Anarchy in the UK’ and ‘GSTQ’ – Police boarded the boat and arrested several people; including the band’s then manager Malcolm McLaren. The band had more sense than to be collared. B-side ‘Did You No Wrong‘ does not feature on the ‘Never Mind The Bollocks’ album, but is currently available on the ‘Kiss This’ compilation CD and Sex Pistols 3 CD Box Set. The single was released on 7″ only, and issued in a blue and silver sleeve (the official colours of the Silver Jubilee).

The 7″ single was re-issued in its original form as part of the limited edition 2007 vinyl re-issue series. Top 10 Sex Pistols Songs Top 10 Sex Pistols Songs By Dave Swanson September 3, 2013 12:05 PM REDDIT Evening Standard, Hulton Archive, Getty Images Everything that can be said about the Sex Pistols has probably been said about a thousand times already. From the filth and fury to the scandals and headlines, the pioneering punk band impacted both music and society during its brief run in the ’70s. But among all the hype and hate was a batch of great songs that still inspire kids to pick up guitars nearly 40 years later. These are the Top 10 Sex Pistols Songs. 10 From: ‘Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols’ (1977) A revved-up rocker from the band’s and only album, ‘Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols,’ ‘No Feelings’ overflows with attitude and energy.

“I got no emotions for anybody else / You better understand I’m in love with myself,” Johnny Rotten sings with middle finger flying high. Later, he focuses his anger: “I look around your house, you got nothing to steal / I kick you in the brains when you get down to kneel and pray to your god.” Rock ‘n’ roll attitude served with a wink and a smile. The B-side to ‘God Save the Queen’ (see No. 1 on our list of the Top 10 Sex Pistols Songs) features some great guitar breaks by Steve Jones and a searing vocal performance by Johnny Rotten. ‘Did You No Wrong’ recalls David Bowie ‘s ‘Hang Onto Yourself,’ but angrier. Surprise. After Johnny Rotten left the band following an onstage meltdown at the Sex Pistols’ last show in San Francisco in 1978, guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Cook tried to pick up the pieces with ‘Silly Thing.’ The song has more in common with the pop-leaning Buzzcocks than with the Pistols’ raging punk. Still, the guitars are loud and the melody is simple and sweet.

(‘Silly Thing’ can also be found on 1979’s ‘The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle’ soundtrack.) From: ‘Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols’ (1977) Manager Malcolm McLaren suggested that the band write a song about submission. Johnny Rotten and original bassist Glen Matlock thought it was a lame idea, so they instead wrote a song about a submarine mission, avoiding the bondage theme McLaren asked for. As Matlock stated in the DVD ‘Classic Albums: Never Mind the Bollocks ,’ “the song is more about taking the piss out of Malcolm than anything else.” Musically, the Pistols play a slow and sleazy grind — like the Kinks on Quaaludes. From: ‘Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols’ (1977) Super-charged from the start, the full-throttle ‘Problems’ never lets up.

Johnny Rotten lays out his mission statement: “Eat your heart out on a plastic tray / You don’t do what you want, then you’ll fade away / You won’t find me working nine to five / It’s too much fun a being alive.” Ultimately, it comes down to the chorus refrain of “the problem is you,” which gains greater resonance at the end of the song, as the word is repeated in an increasingly bored tone that drives home the point. From: ‘Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols’ (1977) The powerhouse opening song on the Sex Pistols’ only album sounds more than a little like another classic from the era — the Jam’s ‘In the City,’ which was released six months earlier. But the Pistols song is louder and heavier. “I didn’t mind them nicking it,” Jam frontman Paul Weller told Uncut in 2007. “You’ve got to get your ideas from somewhere, haven’t you?” The song was recorded after Glen Matlock had been kicked out of the group, leaving guitarist Steve Jones to play the bass parts.

From: ‘Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols’ (1977) One of the Sex Pistols’ most unhinged and violent records, ‘Bodies’ moves at 100 miles per hour. Lyrically, it’s even heavier. Johnny Rotten delivers this abortion tale with typical anger. “I wrote … ‘F— this and f— that / F— it all, and f— the f—ing brat,'” Rotten told Spin in 2007. “I don’t think there’s a clearer song about the pain of abortion. The juxtaposition of all those different psychic things in your head, and all the confusion, the anger, the frustration you have to capture in those words.” Released in the fall of 1976, the band’s debut single would become a rallying cry for a generation of restless kids in England. The descending riff that launches the song is the sound of walls crumbling to ruins. “I am an anti-Christ, I am an anarchist,” Johnny Rotten spits out from the very start. In spite of the awkwardly inventive rhyme, there’s no denying the music that immediately hits.

It’s set against a wall of guitars that create a massive sound; ‘Anarchy in the U.K.’ is heavy without being metal, metallic without being heavy. It still resonates. Released in the summer of 1977, ‘Pretty Vacant’ is, in many ways, the definitive Sex Pistols anthem. Written by bass player Glen Matlock, with some input from Johnny Rotten, ‘Pretty Vacant’ was inspired by the “blank generation.” Matlock also admits in the ‘Classic Albums: Never Mind the Bollocks’ documentary that it was partially inspired by the Small Faces song ‘Wham Bam Thank You Mam.’ “Glen was a little bit more eclectic,” band manager Malcolm McLaren said. “He liked the Beatles and, dare I say it, ABBA.” “There is no future in England’s dreaming” perfectly captures the restlessness and frustration of U.K. youth in the ’70s. ‘God Save the Queen’ was released during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and immediately banned by the BBC. Just as quickly, it became a monster hit, even though there are rumors that the song was kept from the No. 1 spot by industry insiders who didn’t want to fuel the controversy further.

More than 35 years later, ‘God Save the Queen’ remains one of the most incendiary and powerful records of all time. Top 100 Classic Rock Songs Welcome back to Ultimate Classic Rock It appears that you already have an account created within our VIP network of sites on . To keep your personal information safe, we need to verify that it's really you. To activate your account, please confirm your password. When you have confirmed your password, you will be able to log in through Facebook on both sites. Enter your password YES, Activate My Account Now! Welcome back to Ultimate Classic Rock It appears that you already have an account on this site associated with . To connect your existing account just click on the account activation button below. You will maintain your existing VIP profile. After you do this, you will be able to always log in to using your original account information. Sex Pistols on Apple Music To preview a song, mouse over the title and click Play. Open iTunes to buy and download music. Biography The Sex Pistols may have only been together for two years in the late '70s, but they changed the face of popular music.

Through their raw, nihilistic singles and violent performances, the band revolutionized the idea of what rock & roll could be. In England, the group was considered dangerous to the very fabric of society and was banned across the country; in America, they didn't have the same impact, but countless bands in both countries were inspired by the sheer sonic force of their music, while countless others were inspired by their independent, Do-It-Yourself ethics. Even if they didn't release any singles by themselves, there was an implicit independence in the way they played their music and handled their career. The band gave birth to the massive independent music underground in England and America that would soon include bands that didn't have a direct musical connection to the Sex Pistols' initial three-minute blasts of rage, but couldn't have existed without those singles. Guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Cook were regulars at a boutique owned by their manager, Malcolm McLaren; bassist Glen Matlock worked at the store. Vocalist John Lydon, who would later perform under the name Johnny Rotten, met the rest of the group at the shop and was asked to join the band.

While the band played simple rock & roll loudly and abrasively, Rotten arrogantly sang of anarchy, abortion, violence, fascism, and apathy; without Rotten, the band wouldn't have been threatening to England's government -- he provided the band's conceptual direction, calculated to be as confrontational and threatening as possible. The publicity caused by their caustic first single "Anarchy in the U.K." caused the band to be dropped by their record label, EMI. Matlock was fired before their next single "God Save the Queen," which was released on Virgin; it was banned by the BBC. Matlock's replacement was Sid Vicious, a tough street kid who, unlike the rest of the band, couldn't play his instrument. After releasing one album, Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols, in 1977, the band headed over to the U.S. for a tour in January of 1978; it lasted 14 days. Rotten left the band after their show at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom on January 14, heading back to New York; he would form Public Image Limited later that year.

McLaren tried to continue the band but Cook and Jones soon turned against him. In the two decades following the Sex Pistols' implosion, an endless stream of outtakes, demos, repackagings, and live shows were released on a variety of labels, which only helped their cult grow. In 1996, to celebrate their impending 20th anniversary, the Sex Pistols reunited, with original bassist Glen Matlock taking the place of the deceased Sid Vicious. The band embarked on an international tour in June of 1996, releasing the Filthy Lucre Live album the following month. Four years later, Julien Temple (who helmed the band's first movie, The Great Rock & Roll Swindle) directed the documentary film The Filth & the Fury. In 2016, the Sex Pistols' organization signed a deal with Universal Music to handle distribution of the group's catalog outside of North America.

In what may have been a belated effort to ward off the extensive bootlegging of the band's live shows and demos, Universal's first Sex Pistols release was Live 1976, a four-disc box set documenting four shows the group played between June and September 1976, as recorded by their soundman Dave Goodman. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Question: What was the title of the Sex Pistol's first UK single?
Answer: Anarchy in the UK